When our brave soldiers return home from combat, many experiences what is known as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), soldiers with PTSD return home with a series of mental health issues. Some have vivid nightmares, and some also experience vivid flashbacks while wide awake. There are also a host of other symptoms related to this illness, such as irritability, violence, and self-destructive behavior such as alcohol and drug abuse. War in and of itself is unnatural, we are not designed to take life or see life taken, and when human beings are put in this moral position, it can cause severe damage to their mental state.
Fortunately, there has been a great deal of progress made in helping soldiers with PTSD cope with their symptoms, although a cure so far doesn’t appear to be in sight. Many veterans use service dogs to help them both physically and mentally live the best lives they can. These animals are trained to help soldiers with physical injuries manage their daily routines, but also assist in helping them cope with the mental anguish that is PTSD. Now, many people mistake the comfort these dogs lend to soldiers as merely letting them pet and cuddle when they feel stressed. But, a service dog’s skills go far beyond that, these pups can actually sense when their soldier’s upset even when they are asleep. And they are trained to take steps to help calm their soldiers such as gently waking them up and also turning on the lights. We see this play out in a service dog commercial put out by the Royal Dutch Guide Dog Foundation. In the ad, a soldier is hurt and lying on a battlefield. Death and destruction are all around him as he looks around anguished by the horrors before his eyes.
Source: YouTube
However, just as he starts to sink deeper into despair, another soldier in his dream begins to lick his face. The soldier suddenly wakes up to find that it’s his loyal service dog waking him up. The pup even heads over to the light switch to turn on his lamp.
Source: YouTube
Such a service is invaluable to service members battling PTSD. Please be sure to let your local lawmakers know that you support legislation that funds these efforts. You can watch the entire commercial in the video below.
